Opera Bastille Paris – 2016-2017 Calendar Of Performances

Some of the grandest operas productions in the world are staged at Opera Bastille in Paris. Even though it is large — at 2,700 seats — tickets are in heavy demand, so you need to order as far in advance as you can.

This is the place to be if you want to truly experience the magnificence of grand opera. If you only attend one opera in your life, it should be here, at Opera Bastille. The 2016-17 season has many highlights including grand operas like Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Aida. Check the complete schedule and book your opera before you leave home.

2016-2017 Performances at Opera Bastille

The 2016-2017 season schedule is packed with the biggest and most popular operas of the modern era.

Strauss' Der Ronsendkavalier, Puccini's uber-popular Tosca, and a triumphant return to Paris of Verdi's Aida lead the stellar list.

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Donizetti's opera was first performed in 1835. It's based on Sir Water Scott's historic novel. Performed in Italian, with English and French surtitles. October 14 to November 16, 2016.
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LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN (Tales of Hoffman)
Offenbach had written 100 operas before he started on his opus and last opera. He died before it was completed. Performed in French, with English surtitles. November 3 to 27, 2016.
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CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
First performed in Rome in 1890, it's considered Pietro Mascagni's masterpiece. Performed in Italian, with English and French surtitles. November 30 to December 23, 2016.
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IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE
Cristoph Cluck's four-act opera was first performed in Paris in 1779. Performed in French, with English surtitles. December 2 to 25, 2016.
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LOHENGRIN
Wagner's romantic opera was first performed in 1850. Performed in German, with English and French surtitles. January 18 to February 18, 2017.
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THE MAGIC FLUTE
This opera in two acts was one of the last works written by Mozart. It's in the form of Singspiel, which combines singing and spoken dialogue. Performed in German, with English and French surtitles. January 23 to February 23, 2017.
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COSÌ FAN TUTTE – at Palais Garnier
More Mozart, this time performed at Palais Garnier February 7 to February 19, 2017.
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CARMEN
It was first performed in Paris in 1875 to poor reviews. George Bizet died suddenly during its first run and never knew about its future success in Vienna later that year. Performed in French, with English surtitles. March 10 to July 16, 2017.
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LA FILLE DE NEIGE – The Snow Maiden
This was Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1823-1886) favorite opera. It was first performed in St Petersburg in 1882. Performed in Russian, with English and French surtitles. April 15 to May 3, 2017.
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WOZZECK
Alban Berg's (1885 – 1935) opera depicts daily life of soldiers and townspeople in a rural German-speaking town during World War I. Performed in German, with English and French surtitles. April 26 to May 15, 2017.
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EUGENE ONEGUINE
Tchaikovsky's opera was first performed in Moscow in 1879. The story follows a selfish hero who lives to regret his rejection of a young woman's love. Performed in Russian, with English and French surtitles. May 16 to June 14, 2017..
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RIGOLETTO
Verdi's libretto had a triumphant premiere in Venice in 1851. It's considered to be the first of Verdi's operatic masterpieces. Performed in Italian, with English and French surtitles. May 27 to June 27, 2017. Ticket sales start on January 10, 2017.
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Opera Bastille – The Modernistic Paris Opera House

The Palais Garnier served Paris well as a stunning venue for opera for over 100 years. But as opera productions grew larger and more lavish, with more demand for tickets, French President François Mitterand contemplated creating a larger, more modern venue for opera in Paris.

The 200th anniversary of the French Revolution of 1789 was approaching, which had kicked off at the former prison located at Bastille. So what better place to built an opera than at that historic location, to commemorate the Revolution? Of course, there also was the fact that French kings, emperors and presidents simply loved creating grand public works to be remembered by. This would be one of Mitterand's grandest.

A design competition attracted 756 entries, with the award finally going to an unknown architect (just as was the case with Charles Garnier and the 19th-century opera building), born in Uruguay and living in Canada — Carlos Ott. His vision was to create a modern building with walls of glass. The building has been praised for its cutting edge design, its backstage facilities, and for giving each of the 2,700 seats an unrestricted view of the stage.

Problems, scandals and delays plagued the construction. But, even though the building wasn't really completely finished, it was opened with ceremony on July 13, 1998, just one day before Bastille Day and the 200th anniversary of the Revolution.

Opera Bastille Information

Getting to Opera Bastille

Located in the 12th Arrondissement, on the Place de la Bastille, it's easily accessible by Metro, RER & bus.

Address – Place de la Bastille, 75012

Metro — Bastille (Lines 1, 5, 8)

RER — Gare de Lyon (Lines A & C)

Bus — 20, 29, 65, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91

Security Update 2016/17

For security reasons, luggage and travel bags are not permitted into either Palais Garnier or Opera Bastille. We advise you to leave backpacks in your hotel room. It's highly recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the performance.